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Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2745302" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 75, “The Stand Off”, Friday, March 17th, 1882, 10:45 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Ruby giggles, "Nice hand baby." She sees the still serious look on Ringo's and Jake's faces so keeps the comment she was going to make to herself. "Can I get anyone anything, a fresh drink perhaps?"</p><p></p><p>Ringo folds the cloth back over the necklace and the slides it across the table to Jake. Johnny Ringo then says to Jake, "You hold on to this for now. Is there somewhere more private where the two of us can talk?" He replies, "Sure".</p><p></p><p>When Ruby finished her set Kate stepped down as well and began to wend her way through the crowd serving drinks. A big hand was finishing up at Jake's table, and Jake saw Johnny Ringo slide a cloth-wrapped bundle across the table and say something. Whatever sense of relaxation she had achieved disappeared as she made her way closer.</p><p></p><p>First Jake scoops up the cash on the table and then gathers up the cards. He palms the queen of diamonds as he does so. Taking his time he puts the rest of the cards into his card case. He points at the stairs, "There is a room we can use upstairs." When Ringo looks towards the stairs Jake puts the palmed queen of diamonds into the cloth with the necklace. "Ruby, a couple of whiskeys please before we head up." </p><p></p><p>Ruby goes to the bar and gets the whiskeys as she is asked, then returns to the men. Jake puts the cloth wrapped necklace in his pocket before he takes one whiskey from her and hands it to Ringo. He takes his whiskey and turns to go up stairs. When he does he uses the sleight of hand that he and Ruby had practiced dozens of times, using his own body to shield the fluid moments as he handed the cloth package to Ruby. He notices out of the corner of his eye that Minerva is quickly heading towards Ruby and Katherine. Lastly Jake brushes his Colt with his wrist in that reassuring way, and quickly climbs the stairs and leads Ringo into one of the unoccupied rooms. He lets Ringo close the door behind them.</p><p></p><p>Ruby West had known Silver Jake Cook long enough and intimately enough, more than any other person in her life, to be able to read him flawlessly. Sometimes they joked about their ability to read each other’s minds, knowing what the other one was thinking or wanted almost all the time. Ruby always felt it was something bigger than the two of them, and she didn’t understand it, but never questioned the gift they were given. </p><p></p><p>She knew Johnny Ringo was trouble, she had just been waiting for his hand to be revealed. She saw the calm that came over Jake, the calm that came when there was trouble in front of him. She now had something in her pocket that Jake wanted her to see and Minerva was quickly approaching her. She saw the message in Jake’s eyes, for her to stay calm and be smart. She watched him brush his gun, another signal she knew well.</p><p></p><p>Ruby kept her smile on as she watches Jake walk up the stairs. Ruby puts a finger to her lips, then makes a motion for Minerva and Kate to stay where they are. They hear the door close upstairs. Ruby heads to Jeff, who is standing by the weapons cabinet near the door and whispers to him, “I believe Mr. Ringo wishes to cause us harm. Jeff, you’ve always been a loyal employee. I’m asking you now to continue that. Please, as quietly and as unseen as you can, take all the ammunition out of his weapons.” Jeff nods his head in agreement. </p><p></p><p>Earlier that evening Ruby had introduced Minerva to a few of their regular customers. Some already know of her from her sermon on Sunday Minerva spoke with each of them graciously accepting their compliments and inquiring if they will be attending Sunday's sermon. Finally, she went to Jake's table. Minerva stood back while the scene between Ruby and Helen played itself out observing the reactions of the other's at the table. </p><p></p><p>As the evening grew later Minerva continued to unobtrusively watch the poker game from a short distance away in an attempt to learn more about the game and this Johnny Ringo that Ruby was so worried about. When Johnny runs out of money he pulls out a vaguely familiar piece of cloth. Nestled inside is Nanuet's necklace. Knowing that Nanuet would not willingly part with it, Minerva feels fear rise up and grab her throat. keeping her face blank she inches closer and listens in to the conversation. When Jake and Johnny leave the table she makes her way over to Kate and Ruby. They can see the barely disguised panic in her eyes as she whispers, "Senorita's, we must talk privately." " Where is Senor Nanuet?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby makes her way quickly back to her friends. “Let’s also head upstairs.” Ruby can hear Jake and Ringo’s voices and they choose a room close, but not too close to them. Once they are inside and the door is shut Ruby looks to Minerva. As she talks she puts her hand in her pocket and touches what Jake had handed her. As she answers Minerva she pulls the cloth out. “Nanuet went to Tombstone with Chester to find Chumbley, to stop him from printing the story about my untimely demise.” With those words Ruby looks down to her hand. She closes her eyes, her fears coming true. It was Chester’s shirt, Nanuet’s necklace, and Jake’s warning sign for her, the Queen of Diamonds. Ruby took a deep breath then looked back at Kate and Minerva. “Ladies, we are in a lot of trouble.” </p><p></p><p>“I don’t know what Ringo wants, but I’m telling you right now we’re all in a lot of danger. Obviously the Cowboys have Nanuet and Chester. ” She turns to Minerva and as she does she places the card down her bodice. “Senorita, you seem to want to be friends with us and so far we have no reason not to trust you, although we do not really know you all that well. I’m going to tell you something and hope you will take that this is shared with friendship and trust, and as we don’t have a lot of time I can only hope that you will be ok with it. I am not exactly ‘just a singer’. I have the ability to manipulate…" She pauses for effect then continues with emphasis, "...Magic. And I’m going to be using it now to try to help our friends. I hope you won’t feel the need to turn me in.”</p><p></p><p>Minerva replies, "Kindred spirits. Remember Ruby? No , I will not turn you in. I know only too well what it's like to live in fear of being discovered." She laughs mirthlessly to herself. A wizard! By Zeus, I find myself befriended by a wizard! What lesson are you trying to teach me now goddess?" </p><p></p><p>She grasps Kate and Ruby's hands. "It is true, It has only been six days since my arrival in Promise City, But the gods have conspired to forge a strong bond between us and I for one will remain true to it for good or ill. Nanuet and I share a special connection as well and although I do not know Chester as well, I know of his importance to you. I will do whatever is in my power to insure the safety of all of you."</p><p></p><p>Ruby gives Minerva a genuine smile and squeezes her hand, and Kate's too. "Yes, I remember. Now's not really the time, but I've been so lucky coming here to Promise City, meeting all of you." She pauses for a moment to look at her friends. "Alright, enough of that. We need a plan. The first thing I'm going to do is read Senor Ringo's thoughts. I'm sure Jake will be counting on that and asking the right questions. And I must do it soon. Do either of you have any ideas?" </p><p></p><p>Ruby pauses again. "Just know this. If I can help it I won't let anything happen to either of you, or Jake. And I will kill Johnny Ringo if I have to, to keep that from happening." Both Minerva and Kate can see the serious, murderous look in Ruby's eyes.</p><p></p><p>"O.k. Let's find out what's going on in that room so we can make a plan. We'll guard you so that you can focus on reading his mind." Minerva pulls her derringer out from the folds of her skirt and snickers. "It Doesn't seem quite adequate does it?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby glances at her friend. "It's good enough to get the job done, and you'd better believe that it will. No one really comes up here, although it is Friday night at that prospector is usually around." </p><p>Ruby looks at Kate, who is looking a bit pale. "It's going to be ok. Just think about any ideas that can help us while I try to figure out what's on Ringo's mind."</p><p></p><p>"I've learned a few new tricks lately, I'll make sure you're not interrupted. Find out what he knows, Ruby," Kate said as she slipped Tom's pistol out of it's hiding place in her skirts. Ruby tries to give a reassuring smile to her friends. She recites the incantation she knows so well, then concentrates. Ruby doesn't see who opens the door, she just makes her way into the hallway. She notices that the door is open a crack so she takes a few steps back into the room and tries to detect the thoughts from where she is.</p><p></p><p>Jake and Ringo were in the room. Ringo left the door open a crack and motioned for Jake to wait. After a few minutes he sees the other three head upstairs. "I asked for privacy, your friends don't seem to believe in that. I don't care for ambushes either, as I'm sure they are armed.” He pauses and watches the other three proceed down the hallway and then hears one returning. He turns back to Jake and says, “Goodnight then, don't try to follow me. Don't leave here for the next five minutes if you ever plan to see your friends again." Ringo begins to exit the room.</p><p></p><p>Kate slipped the pistol back into her skirt as the door opened. Ringo hadn't been there long, certainly not long enough for Ruby's spell to work. Jake draws on him quickly, cocking the hammer with his left hand and ready to pull the trigger with the gun pointed at his upper chest. "Sit down. We didn't talk yet." </p><p></p><p>Ringo looks back and tells Jake "So I was right, this was trap. I was willing to talk to you, but not to a lynch mob. I'm leaving. Go ahead and shoot me. Do you honestly think I didn't bring any backup with me? If I don't walk out of this saloon alive neither will anybody else." He turns and starts to walk towards the stairs. Jake holsters his gun and sits down in the room.</p><p></p><p>Kate and Minerva can see Ruby concentrating, looking like she is lost in thought. Her face quickly changes emotions and before they can stop her she steps out into the hallway, blocking Ringo from the stairs. She motions for them to stay back in the room and she closes the door behind her. </p><p></p><p>Ruby hurries into the hallway, "Wait, Mr. Ringo, please don't leave." She tries to look as non threatening as she can, and watches his reaction before continuing. "Look, I'm not sure what happened in there with Jake, but we only came up here because we are worried about our friends. Please don't leave, tell us what you want." Ruby has a very worried look on her face.</p><p></p><p>He replies, "I told Cook what I wanted downstairs, he decided not to grant my request. What I want now is for you to move out of my way or do I have to move you myself?" Why do you have to talk to him, why can't you talk to me?" Ruby asks softly.</p><p></p><p>"Talking isn't what I do with women who look like you," is his response as he moves forward and she moves to the side to let him pass. He spell then kicks in and she begins to detect his thoughts. He starts to descend down the stairs, his back to her, when she says "Sure Mr. Ringo, go ahead, walk away...."</p><p></p><p>Ringo continues down the stairs, ignoring Ruby. She says, "You think because you work with the law, you got connections, you can get away with whatever you want." He reaches the landing and continues down the remainder of the way to the first floor as calls out to him, "But now you're stuck. Killing us isn't going to get you what you want, you need us alive for that, so eventually you're going to have to trust us, whether you want to or not."</p><p></p><p>Ruby hurries across the room after him. As he stops and asks Jeff Mills for his gun back she steps in front of him and blurts out "Oh, but I guess girls who look like me don't think like that, we just *beep* right?" Ruby looks him straight in the eyes as she says this. He stares her back in the eye, lowers his voice, and replies, "Miss, I know for a fact that you are a person of action not words." As he says that she sees an image from his mind of herself back in the bandit’s caves firing at Curly Bill Brocius and realizes that Ringo was also there at the time.</p><p></p><p>Ringo takes his gun back, and comments "The weights wrong." She states, "You are absolutely right, I am a person of action, and I do what I have to help and protect my friends. We all know the facts of your reputation. I think you were setting us up." She points to Jeff. "Jeff has your ammunition." She continues without giving him a chance to reply, "Did you think we were going to let you come in here and shoot us in our own saloon? Jeff will give it back to you once you're outside." </p><p></p><p>He replies, "Don't bother, I have more." He gestures to Jeff and says, "Hat and coat please." Jeff hands them to him. Ringo puts on the coat and says to Ruby, "Don't really care for the fit of this one, too bad I lost my old one." Ruby takes a good look at the table near the bottom of the stairs, before looking back at Ringo. “Yes, you're right, it's not a flattering fit. Maybe you shouldn't have left the old one... unattended." She flips her hair and with a smile adds, "That's just a guess of course." </p><p></p><p>She takes a step closer to him and says quietly, "You and I are not really all that different you know. Think about what you would have done in our place and our situation." She backs away, leaving him plenty of room to get by. "Just think about it." Johnny Ringo does not respond to that. Instead he says to Ruby, "Tell your friend Warren I'm sorry I missed him tonight, but I'll be sure to catch up with him real soon." </p><p></p><p>He puts on his hat, heads outside into the rain and starts to unhitch his horse. "I don't have any friends by the name of Warren," Ruby calls out after him. "If you referring to who I think you are, I been screwed by them enough times to let them fend for themselves." Ringo gets on his horse and rides off to the west. With the rain coming down he may or may not have heard Ruby's last outburst.</p><p></p><p>When Katherine heard Ruby's voice move toward the stairs. It sounded like Ringo was not stopping. She waited a few more minutes, then opened the door quietly and looked out. Ruby had gone downstairs with Ringo. Kate crossed the hall and stood in the doorway. "Jake?" she said quietly, looking much like a child knowing she had done something naughty. "I'm sorry. What happened?"</p><p></p><p>He replies, "Sorry? For trying to help your friends? Don't apologize. Nothing happened. He heard you three come up and decided to head out. So I drew on him and told him to sit down. He didn't and I didn't shoot. I should have. I should have killed him right here." Jake looks at her but is looking right through her. </p><p></p><p>Ruby turns on her heel and walks to the stairs. Once she is half way up the stairs she bolts for the room Jake is in. She bursts in the door, out of breath, and sees Kate and Jake. Only a moment later Minerva joins them. Once Ruby catches her breath, a torrent of thoughts pour out. </p><p></p><p>"That ^&^*$ Ringo. I don't know what happened in here, but he had a spell that would protect him from bullets, although he was scared it might not work. He wanted to hurt me, but he didn't, thinking that Jake would shoot him if he did and he didn't want to take the chance. If any of us shot at him though, they were going to blow up the entire saloon. He's got some guys outside and he's got some friends sitting downstairs. And he was there, there in the room, invisible, the day I killed Curley Bill so he saw everything. Plus he wants me to warn Warren Earp about him coming." Ruby finally stops and takes a breath. She looks at each of her friends in turn, "What in Hades are we going to do?" </p><p></p><p>Ruby sits next to Jake on the bed, "I pretended I was scared at first, which I wasn't but... What about Nanuet and Chester? Do you think they're dead?" By her face Jake can tell Ruby is starting to get worried now.</p><p></p><p>Jake states, "Obviously Ringo wants something from us or for us to do something. He doesn't need them alive to make us believe they are. The thought crossed my mind that he is just trying to finish off those that hit the rustlers cave, and wants us in a convenient spot. I'm not optimistic that Nanuet and Chester are alive, that's is why I wanted to kill him. I should have done it. I don't care how many men he has down stairs." </p><p></p><p>Jake looks down at his feet for a moment before looking back at the three women. "Unless someone has a clever idea you should either clear out of town or be prepared to kill them before they kill us. In cold blood if necessary. I'm not giving up on Nanuet and Chester, but I'm prepared for the worst."</p><p></p><p>Crap, thinks Ruby, Jake thinks Nanuet and Chester are dead. She wasn't really listening to the rest of the conversation, she was lost in thought. If it wasn't for me 'dying' they wouldn't have been riding to Tombstone and none of this would be happening right now. Damn it! You are a stupid girl, she shakes her head. </p><p></p><p>Kate says, "He'll make contact again. He can't get whatever he wants from us if he doesn't, and if he just wanted us dead this saloon wouldn't be standing." She was quiet for a moment, rubbing her arms as if she were cold. </p><p></p><p>"I can't just clear out. I got you involved with this, I'm not going to leave you to clean up the mess. How am I going to keep Ginnie safe? We're probably safest at the El Parador, but if we're endangering them.... I don't know. I don't have any clever ideas right now. Ringo holds all the cards. Who can we count as allies? The Apache watch our ranch, I know, but with the treaty there's not much they can do to help us unless the Cowboys go into the mountains. Much as I hate it, we may have to line up with the Earps."</p><p></p><p>Jake says, "I'm glad to have you with us in this Katherine, but no looking back about who caused what. It doesn't really matter. Today is what matters." Jake scratches his beard. "No, the Apache can be allies. They don't have to fight, knowing where the cowboy gang is and even more importantly where Nanuet and Chester are..." Jake pauses and looks away, recovers and looks back, "is far more valuable. The Apache seem to watch everything. We need to get word to them. Maybe Nanuet's mentor might have a way to locate him. We also need to tell Gonzalez. Anybody who knows us could be in danger. Nobody goes anywhere without protection. If what Ruby learned is true, then they are probably watching us and maybe even trying to listen in." </p><p></p><p>"Ruby, what in Hades were you talking about Ringo having connections with the law or something and needing us?" “Huh?" Ruby replies to Jake, snapping out of her thoughts, obviously confused. "I was trying to get all my ideas out I don't even remember what I said. What are you asking me? The last thing Ringo said before he rode off was 'Tell your friend Warren I'm sorry I missed him tonight and I'll see him real soon'. He thinks we're friends with the Earps. I told him they messed with us enough times I don't exactly consider them friends but I don't know if he heard me. It is raining pretty hard out there. Is that what you wanted to know?"</p><p></p><p>Jake replies, “No. But that is important too.” Kate interjects, "I think more why you referred to Ringo as having connections with the law, rather than us, Ruby. I heard you say that to him in the hallway.” Jake adds, "You were standing at the top of the stairs yelling down to Ringo. Something about him having connections with the law, thinking he can do whatever he wants, but having to trust us?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby says, "You heard that too? I wasn't yelling. I was seeing his thoughts and was trying to find out for Judge Isby if Ringo had any connections to any lawmen anywhere. I was just trying to trick him into thinking it, IF it even is true. The judge thinks the law in certain places are in with the Cowboys. Ringo's only thought was that the Earps want him dead. It would help us to know if he did have connections with the law, I mean, so we know who else to look out for." "Smart move, trying to get him to think about his law connections." Jake says approvingly. </p><p></p><p>"As for trusting us, you both just said he obviously wants us for something and whatever it is he's going to have to trust us if we wants to get whatever it is." Ruby sighs and runs her fingers through her hair, "But I'll tell you, he had this place covered, if we would have done anything but exactly what he wanted, all of us and more would have paid very dearly."</p><p></p><p>Kate states, "Thankfully that didn't happen. And now we have an idea of how far Ringo is willing to go. Jake is right, we all need to be very careful. I hope he won't try anything over at the El Parador. I might be beneath his notice; I'll be thankful if I am. Beside contacting the Apache, is there anything else we can do? I should warn Sonoma, it's unlikely but they might target the ranch. Jake, Mr. Gonzales is out of town right now, I don't know when he'll be back. I should go to the Apache myself. I could ride out in disguise so the Cowboys wouldn't know to follow, but I'd have to be myself again before I get there. And we'd have to find someone who could come with me that the Cowboys wouldn't suspect.”</p><p></p><p>Ruby reminds Kate, "Did you forget you sassed him on your last visit to Tombstone? Or that he knows you have his books? I don't think you'll be under his radar. We'd better warn them at the El Parador and maybe let them...um... hide Ginnie, in case they know your... our ties to her." Ruby gives Kate a knowing glance. </p><p></p><p>"Look, we have no idea what he wants. We do knows he wants to threaten us by using our friends. He wanted to talk to Jake. Maybe the rest of us don't matter to him, who knows. We need to think if there is a way we can find Nanuet and Chester. The Apache is a good idea too. Is Lousie around?"</p><p></p><p>Kate replies, "I don't know where Louise is right now. I didn't really sass him, Ruby. I just didn't give him what he wanted.” Ruby states, “"Not giving Johnny Ringo what he wants IS sassing him, Kate." </p><p></p><p>Kate says, “I'm worried about staying in the El Parador. I don't want to endanger anyone there, even though it's probably the safest place for me to be. I could go to my house on the ranch, or the new house in town, but staying alone is a bad idea. Ginnie... I just don't know. I can't keep her with me, but I don't know where else to have her go. If they know about her, then leaving her with Dorita doesn't solve anything. She'd refuse to be sent far away, and how could I even get her on a train to Boston? And I'll have to make sure Conrad keeps away from me. They may know about him, they may not, but either way it's safer for him not to be near me” </p><p></p><p>Ruby sighs. "The El Parador is most definitely safer than here. And you can't go and stay by yourself at the ranch or your new house, neither is a wise idea." Ruby meets Katherine's eyes. "Ginnie should stay in Mr. Gonzales room. He's not here so he won't mind. As for Conrad, I doubt Ringo will want to start getting others like him involved." Kate answers, "Others like him? Ruby, Conrad is my friend, but you didn't see him when we talked to Irby Cole. He's not one to stand up against people like Ringo; he keeps his head down. Unless you just mean Ringo won't involve people outside our core group." </p><p></p><p>Kate continues, “. I can go talk to the Apache tomorrow if we can find someone to go with me. I can go in disguise so they won't recognize me. Or perhaps Naki-Yai could carry a message for me." Ruby says, "Who can we get... I don't know, that's just dangerous. They'll suspect anyone from here. Maybe you could send that Apache lady and Flint... He'd do that for us.” Kate says, "Flint was there too, not in the caves, but outside. He might be in just as much danger as we are."</p><p></p><p>Ruby asks, “What do you think, Jake, Minerva?" "Look Katherine, you can stay here or go to the El Parador. Be where ever you feel safe. I don't know that the Lady IS safe right now. Either way if you are going out tonight I'll bring you. Same for you Minerva." Minerva has a confused look on her face and seems to be having trouble following the conversation. Jake turns back to Ruby, "What did you mean paid dearly, was there something more than his men downstairs? Is there something else we should be doing right now?"</p><p></p><p>“Isn't blowing up the Lucky Lady and killing us and all the innocent customers in here enough? They only thing we should be doing is figuring out how to find Nanuet and Chester and that is what I am going to do." Ruby snaps, "I don't care about warning other people who probably have no part in this," she says as she glances at Kate. "We each choose to do what we think we should be doing, what we think is important." </p><p></p><p>Ruby stands and walks for the door, "Let me know if the rest of you figure out a plan." She walks out of the room and stomps up the stairs to her bedroom. Jake gives a heavy sigh, "I'll be right back." As he heads out the door, "Try not to run out on me just yet, I don't know if I can fight the Cowboy gang and chase three head strong women all over town in the rain and keep my sunny disposition."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2745302, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 75, “The Stand Off”, Friday, March 17th, 1882, 10:45 P.M.[/B] Ruby giggles, "Nice hand baby." She sees the still serious look on Ringo's and Jake's faces so keeps the comment she was going to make to herself. "Can I get anyone anything, a fresh drink perhaps?" Ringo folds the cloth back over the necklace and the slides it across the table to Jake. Johnny Ringo then says to Jake, "You hold on to this for now. Is there somewhere more private where the two of us can talk?" He replies, "Sure". When Ruby finished her set Kate stepped down as well and began to wend her way through the crowd serving drinks. A big hand was finishing up at Jake's table, and Jake saw Johnny Ringo slide a cloth-wrapped bundle across the table and say something. Whatever sense of relaxation she had achieved disappeared as she made her way closer. First Jake scoops up the cash on the table and then gathers up the cards. He palms the queen of diamonds as he does so. Taking his time he puts the rest of the cards into his card case. He points at the stairs, "There is a room we can use upstairs." When Ringo looks towards the stairs Jake puts the palmed queen of diamonds into the cloth with the necklace. "Ruby, a couple of whiskeys please before we head up." Ruby goes to the bar and gets the whiskeys as she is asked, then returns to the men. Jake puts the cloth wrapped necklace in his pocket before he takes one whiskey from her and hands it to Ringo. He takes his whiskey and turns to go up stairs. When he does he uses the sleight of hand that he and Ruby had practiced dozens of times, using his own body to shield the fluid moments as he handed the cloth package to Ruby. He notices out of the corner of his eye that Minerva is quickly heading towards Ruby and Katherine. Lastly Jake brushes his Colt with his wrist in that reassuring way, and quickly climbs the stairs and leads Ringo into one of the unoccupied rooms. He lets Ringo close the door behind them. Ruby West had known Silver Jake Cook long enough and intimately enough, more than any other person in her life, to be able to read him flawlessly. Sometimes they joked about their ability to read each other’s minds, knowing what the other one was thinking or wanted almost all the time. Ruby always felt it was something bigger than the two of them, and she didn’t understand it, but never questioned the gift they were given. She knew Johnny Ringo was trouble, she had just been waiting for his hand to be revealed. She saw the calm that came over Jake, the calm that came when there was trouble in front of him. She now had something in her pocket that Jake wanted her to see and Minerva was quickly approaching her. She saw the message in Jake’s eyes, for her to stay calm and be smart. She watched him brush his gun, another signal she knew well. Ruby kept her smile on as she watches Jake walk up the stairs. Ruby puts a finger to her lips, then makes a motion for Minerva and Kate to stay where they are. They hear the door close upstairs. Ruby heads to Jeff, who is standing by the weapons cabinet near the door and whispers to him, “I believe Mr. Ringo wishes to cause us harm. Jeff, you’ve always been a loyal employee. I’m asking you now to continue that. Please, as quietly and as unseen as you can, take all the ammunition out of his weapons.” Jeff nods his head in agreement. Earlier that evening Ruby had introduced Minerva to a few of their regular customers. Some already know of her from her sermon on Sunday Minerva spoke with each of them graciously accepting their compliments and inquiring if they will be attending Sunday's sermon. Finally, she went to Jake's table. Minerva stood back while the scene between Ruby and Helen played itself out observing the reactions of the other's at the table. As the evening grew later Minerva continued to unobtrusively watch the poker game from a short distance away in an attempt to learn more about the game and this Johnny Ringo that Ruby was so worried about. When Johnny runs out of money he pulls out a vaguely familiar piece of cloth. Nestled inside is Nanuet's necklace. Knowing that Nanuet would not willingly part with it, Minerva feels fear rise up and grab her throat. keeping her face blank she inches closer and listens in to the conversation. When Jake and Johnny leave the table she makes her way over to Kate and Ruby. They can see the barely disguised panic in her eyes as she whispers, "Senorita's, we must talk privately." " Where is Senor Nanuet?" Ruby makes her way quickly back to her friends. “Let’s also head upstairs.” Ruby can hear Jake and Ringo’s voices and they choose a room close, but not too close to them. Once they are inside and the door is shut Ruby looks to Minerva. As she talks she puts her hand in her pocket and touches what Jake had handed her. As she answers Minerva she pulls the cloth out. “Nanuet went to Tombstone with Chester to find Chumbley, to stop him from printing the story about my untimely demise.” With those words Ruby looks down to her hand. She closes her eyes, her fears coming true. It was Chester’s shirt, Nanuet’s necklace, and Jake’s warning sign for her, the Queen of Diamonds. Ruby took a deep breath then looked back at Kate and Minerva. “Ladies, we are in a lot of trouble.” “I don’t know what Ringo wants, but I’m telling you right now we’re all in a lot of danger. Obviously the Cowboys have Nanuet and Chester. ” She turns to Minerva and as she does she places the card down her bodice. “Senorita, you seem to want to be friends with us and so far we have no reason not to trust you, although we do not really know you all that well. I’m going to tell you something and hope you will take that this is shared with friendship and trust, and as we don’t have a lot of time I can only hope that you will be ok with it. I am not exactly ‘just a singer’. I have the ability to manipulate…" She pauses for effect then continues with emphasis, "...Magic. And I’m going to be using it now to try to help our friends. I hope you won’t feel the need to turn me in.” Minerva replies, "Kindred spirits. Remember Ruby? No , I will not turn you in. I know only too well what it's like to live in fear of being discovered." She laughs mirthlessly to herself. A wizard! By Zeus, I find myself befriended by a wizard! What lesson are you trying to teach me now goddess?" She grasps Kate and Ruby's hands. "It is true, It has only been six days since my arrival in Promise City, But the gods have conspired to forge a strong bond between us and I for one will remain true to it for good or ill. Nanuet and I share a special connection as well and although I do not know Chester as well, I know of his importance to you. I will do whatever is in my power to insure the safety of all of you." Ruby gives Minerva a genuine smile and squeezes her hand, and Kate's too. "Yes, I remember. Now's not really the time, but I've been so lucky coming here to Promise City, meeting all of you." She pauses for a moment to look at her friends. "Alright, enough of that. We need a plan. The first thing I'm going to do is read Senor Ringo's thoughts. I'm sure Jake will be counting on that and asking the right questions. And I must do it soon. Do either of you have any ideas?" Ruby pauses again. "Just know this. If I can help it I won't let anything happen to either of you, or Jake. And I will kill Johnny Ringo if I have to, to keep that from happening." Both Minerva and Kate can see the serious, murderous look in Ruby's eyes. "O.k. Let's find out what's going on in that room so we can make a plan. We'll guard you so that you can focus on reading his mind." Minerva pulls her derringer out from the folds of her skirt and snickers. "It Doesn't seem quite adequate does it?" Ruby glances at her friend. "It's good enough to get the job done, and you'd better believe that it will. No one really comes up here, although it is Friday night at that prospector is usually around." Ruby looks at Kate, who is looking a bit pale. "It's going to be ok. Just think about any ideas that can help us while I try to figure out what's on Ringo's mind." "I've learned a few new tricks lately, I'll make sure you're not interrupted. Find out what he knows, Ruby," Kate said as she slipped Tom's pistol out of it's hiding place in her skirts. Ruby tries to give a reassuring smile to her friends. She recites the incantation she knows so well, then concentrates. Ruby doesn't see who opens the door, she just makes her way into the hallway. She notices that the door is open a crack so she takes a few steps back into the room and tries to detect the thoughts from where she is. Jake and Ringo were in the room. Ringo left the door open a crack and motioned for Jake to wait. After a few minutes he sees the other three head upstairs. "I asked for privacy, your friends don't seem to believe in that. I don't care for ambushes either, as I'm sure they are armed.” He pauses and watches the other three proceed down the hallway and then hears one returning. He turns back to Jake and says, “Goodnight then, don't try to follow me. Don't leave here for the next five minutes if you ever plan to see your friends again." Ringo begins to exit the room. Kate slipped the pistol back into her skirt as the door opened. Ringo hadn't been there long, certainly not long enough for Ruby's spell to work. Jake draws on him quickly, cocking the hammer with his left hand and ready to pull the trigger with the gun pointed at his upper chest. "Sit down. We didn't talk yet." Ringo looks back and tells Jake "So I was right, this was trap. I was willing to talk to you, but not to a lynch mob. I'm leaving. Go ahead and shoot me. Do you honestly think I didn't bring any backup with me? If I don't walk out of this saloon alive neither will anybody else." He turns and starts to walk towards the stairs. Jake holsters his gun and sits down in the room. Kate and Minerva can see Ruby concentrating, looking like she is lost in thought. Her face quickly changes emotions and before they can stop her she steps out into the hallway, blocking Ringo from the stairs. She motions for them to stay back in the room and she closes the door behind her. Ruby hurries into the hallway, "Wait, Mr. Ringo, please don't leave." She tries to look as non threatening as she can, and watches his reaction before continuing. "Look, I'm not sure what happened in there with Jake, but we only came up here because we are worried about our friends. Please don't leave, tell us what you want." Ruby has a very worried look on her face. He replies, "I told Cook what I wanted downstairs, he decided not to grant my request. What I want now is for you to move out of my way or do I have to move you myself?" Why do you have to talk to him, why can't you talk to me?" Ruby asks softly. "Talking isn't what I do with women who look like you," is his response as he moves forward and she moves to the side to let him pass. He spell then kicks in and she begins to detect his thoughts. He starts to descend down the stairs, his back to her, when she says "Sure Mr. Ringo, go ahead, walk away...." Ringo continues down the stairs, ignoring Ruby. She says, "You think because you work with the law, you got connections, you can get away with whatever you want." He reaches the landing and continues down the remainder of the way to the first floor as calls out to him, "But now you're stuck. Killing us isn't going to get you what you want, you need us alive for that, so eventually you're going to have to trust us, whether you want to or not." Ruby hurries across the room after him. As he stops and asks Jeff Mills for his gun back she steps in front of him and blurts out "Oh, but I guess girls who look like me don't think like that, we just *beep* right?" Ruby looks him straight in the eyes as she says this. He stares her back in the eye, lowers his voice, and replies, "Miss, I know for a fact that you are a person of action not words." As he says that she sees an image from his mind of herself back in the bandit’s caves firing at Curly Bill Brocius and realizes that Ringo was also there at the time. Ringo takes his gun back, and comments "The weights wrong." She states, "You are absolutely right, I am a person of action, and I do what I have to help and protect my friends. We all know the facts of your reputation. I think you were setting us up." She points to Jeff. "Jeff has your ammunition." She continues without giving him a chance to reply, "Did you think we were going to let you come in here and shoot us in our own saloon? Jeff will give it back to you once you're outside." He replies, "Don't bother, I have more." He gestures to Jeff and says, "Hat and coat please." Jeff hands them to him. Ringo puts on the coat and says to Ruby, "Don't really care for the fit of this one, too bad I lost my old one." Ruby takes a good look at the table near the bottom of the stairs, before looking back at Ringo. “Yes, you're right, it's not a flattering fit. Maybe you shouldn't have left the old one... unattended." She flips her hair and with a smile adds, "That's just a guess of course." She takes a step closer to him and says quietly, "You and I are not really all that different you know. Think about what you would have done in our place and our situation." She backs away, leaving him plenty of room to get by. "Just think about it." Johnny Ringo does not respond to that. Instead he says to Ruby, "Tell your friend Warren I'm sorry I missed him tonight, but I'll be sure to catch up with him real soon." He puts on his hat, heads outside into the rain and starts to unhitch his horse. "I don't have any friends by the name of Warren," Ruby calls out after him. "If you referring to who I think you are, I been screwed by them enough times to let them fend for themselves." Ringo gets on his horse and rides off to the west. With the rain coming down he may or may not have heard Ruby's last outburst. When Katherine heard Ruby's voice move toward the stairs. It sounded like Ringo was not stopping. She waited a few more minutes, then opened the door quietly and looked out. Ruby had gone downstairs with Ringo. Kate crossed the hall and stood in the doorway. "Jake?" she said quietly, looking much like a child knowing she had done something naughty. "I'm sorry. What happened?" He replies, "Sorry? For trying to help your friends? Don't apologize. Nothing happened. He heard you three come up and decided to head out. So I drew on him and told him to sit down. He didn't and I didn't shoot. I should have. I should have killed him right here." Jake looks at her but is looking right through her. Ruby turns on her heel and walks to the stairs. Once she is half way up the stairs she bolts for the room Jake is in. She bursts in the door, out of breath, and sees Kate and Jake. Only a moment later Minerva joins them. Once Ruby catches her breath, a torrent of thoughts pour out. "That ^&^*$ Ringo. I don't know what happened in here, but he had a spell that would protect him from bullets, although he was scared it might not work. He wanted to hurt me, but he didn't, thinking that Jake would shoot him if he did and he didn't want to take the chance. If any of us shot at him though, they were going to blow up the entire saloon. He's got some guys outside and he's got some friends sitting downstairs. And he was there, there in the room, invisible, the day I killed Curley Bill so he saw everything. Plus he wants me to warn Warren Earp about him coming." Ruby finally stops and takes a breath. She looks at each of her friends in turn, "What in Hades are we going to do?" Ruby sits next to Jake on the bed, "I pretended I was scared at first, which I wasn't but... What about Nanuet and Chester? Do you think they're dead?" By her face Jake can tell Ruby is starting to get worried now. Jake states, "Obviously Ringo wants something from us or for us to do something. He doesn't need them alive to make us believe they are. The thought crossed my mind that he is just trying to finish off those that hit the rustlers cave, and wants us in a convenient spot. I'm not optimistic that Nanuet and Chester are alive, that's is why I wanted to kill him. I should have done it. I don't care how many men he has down stairs." Jake looks down at his feet for a moment before looking back at the three women. "Unless someone has a clever idea you should either clear out of town or be prepared to kill them before they kill us. In cold blood if necessary. I'm not giving up on Nanuet and Chester, but I'm prepared for the worst." Crap, thinks Ruby, Jake thinks Nanuet and Chester are dead. She wasn't really listening to the rest of the conversation, she was lost in thought. If it wasn't for me 'dying' they wouldn't have been riding to Tombstone and none of this would be happening right now. Damn it! You are a stupid girl, she shakes her head. Kate says, "He'll make contact again. He can't get whatever he wants from us if he doesn't, and if he just wanted us dead this saloon wouldn't be standing." She was quiet for a moment, rubbing her arms as if she were cold. "I can't just clear out. I got you involved with this, I'm not going to leave you to clean up the mess. How am I going to keep Ginnie safe? We're probably safest at the El Parador, but if we're endangering them.... I don't know. I don't have any clever ideas right now. Ringo holds all the cards. Who can we count as allies? The Apache watch our ranch, I know, but with the treaty there's not much they can do to help us unless the Cowboys go into the mountains. Much as I hate it, we may have to line up with the Earps." Jake says, "I'm glad to have you with us in this Katherine, but no looking back about who caused what. It doesn't really matter. Today is what matters." Jake scratches his beard. "No, the Apache can be allies. They don't have to fight, knowing where the cowboy gang is and even more importantly where Nanuet and Chester are..." Jake pauses and looks away, recovers and looks back, "is far more valuable. The Apache seem to watch everything. We need to get word to them. Maybe Nanuet's mentor might have a way to locate him. We also need to tell Gonzalez. Anybody who knows us could be in danger. Nobody goes anywhere without protection. If what Ruby learned is true, then they are probably watching us and maybe even trying to listen in." "Ruby, what in Hades were you talking about Ringo having connections with the law or something and needing us?" “Huh?" Ruby replies to Jake, snapping out of her thoughts, obviously confused. "I was trying to get all my ideas out I don't even remember what I said. What are you asking me? The last thing Ringo said before he rode off was 'Tell your friend Warren I'm sorry I missed him tonight and I'll see him real soon'. He thinks we're friends with the Earps. I told him they messed with us enough times I don't exactly consider them friends but I don't know if he heard me. It is raining pretty hard out there. Is that what you wanted to know?" Jake replies, “No. But that is important too.” Kate interjects, "I think more why you referred to Ringo as having connections with the law, rather than us, Ruby. I heard you say that to him in the hallway.” Jake adds, "You were standing at the top of the stairs yelling down to Ringo. Something about him having connections with the law, thinking he can do whatever he wants, but having to trust us?" Ruby says, "You heard that too? I wasn't yelling. I was seeing his thoughts and was trying to find out for Judge Isby if Ringo had any connections to any lawmen anywhere. I was just trying to trick him into thinking it, IF it even is true. The judge thinks the law in certain places are in with the Cowboys. Ringo's only thought was that the Earps want him dead. It would help us to know if he did have connections with the law, I mean, so we know who else to look out for." "Smart move, trying to get him to think about his law connections." Jake says approvingly. "As for trusting us, you both just said he obviously wants us for something and whatever it is he's going to have to trust us if we wants to get whatever it is." Ruby sighs and runs her fingers through her hair, "But I'll tell you, he had this place covered, if we would have done anything but exactly what he wanted, all of us and more would have paid very dearly." Kate states, "Thankfully that didn't happen. And now we have an idea of how far Ringo is willing to go. Jake is right, we all need to be very careful. I hope he won't try anything over at the El Parador. I might be beneath his notice; I'll be thankful if I am. Beside contacting the Apache, is there anything else we can do? I should warn Sonoma, it's unlikely but they might target the ranch. Jake, Mr. Gonzales is out of town right now, I don't know when he'll be back. I should go to the Apache myself. I could ride out in disguise so the Cowboys wouldn't know to follow, but I'd have to be myself again before I get there. And we'd have to find someone who could come with me that the Cowboys wouldn't suspect.” Ruby reminds Kate, "Did you forget you sassed him on your last visit to Tombstone? Or that he knows you have his books? I don't think you'll be under his radar. We'd better warn them at the El Parador and maybe let them...um... hide Ginnie, in case they know your... our ties to her." Ruby gives Kate a knowing glance. "Look, we have no idea what he wants. We do knows he wants to threaten us by using our friends. He wanted to talk to Jake. Maybe the rest of us don't matter to him, who knows. We need to think if there is a way we can find Nanuet and Chester. The Apache is a good idea too. Is Lousie around?" Kate replies, "I don't know where Louise is right now. I didn't really sass him, Ruby. I just didn't give him what he wanted.” Ruby states, “"Not giving Johnny Ringo what he wants IS sassing him, Kate." Kate says, “I'm worried about staying in the El Parador. I don't want to endanger anyone there, even though it's probably the safest place for me to be. I could go to my house on the ranch, or the new house in town, but staying alone is a bad idea. Ginnie... I just don't know. I can't keep her with me, but I don't know where else to have her go. If they know about her, then leaving her with Dorita doesn't solve anything. She'd refuse to be sent far away, and how could I even get her on a train to Boston? And I'll have to make sure Conrad keeps away from me. They may know about him, they may not, but either way it's safer for him not to be near me” Ruby sighs. "The El Parador is most definitely safer than here. And you can't go and stay by yourself at the ranch or your new house, neither is a wise idea." Ruby meets Katherine's eyes. "Ginnie should stay in Mr. Gonzales room. He's not here so he won't mind. As for Conrad, I doubt Ringo will want to start getting others like him involved." Kate answers, "Others like him? Ruby, Conrad is my friend, but you didn't see him when we talked to Irby Cole. He's not one to stand up against people like Ringo; he keeps his head down. Unless you just mean Ringo won't involve people outside our core group." Kate continues, “. I can go talk to the Apache tomorrow if we can find someone to go with me. I can go in disguise so they won't recognize me. Or perhaps Naki-Yai could carry a message for me." Ruby says, "Who can we get... I don't know, that's just dangerous. They'll suspect anyone from here. Maybe you could send that Apache lady and Flint... He'd do that for us.” Kate says, "Flint was there too, not in the caves, but outside. He might be in just as much danger as we are." Ruby asks, “What do you think, Jake, Minerva?" "Look Katherine, you can stay here or go to the El Parador. Be where ever you feel safe. I don't know that the Lady IS safe right now. Either way if you are going out tonight I'll bring you. Same for you Minerva." Minerva has a confused look on her face and seems to be having trouble following the conversation. Jake turns back to Ruby, "What did you mean paid dearly, was there something more than his men downstairs? Is there something else we should be doing right now?" “Isn't blowing up the Lucky Lady and killing us and all the innocent customers in here enough? They only thing we should be doing is figuring out how to find Nanuet and Chester and that is what I am going to do." Ruby snaps, "I don't care about warning other people who probably have no part in this," she says as she glances at Kate. "We each choose to do what we think we should be doing, what we think is important." Ruby stands and walks for the door, "Let me know if the rest of you figure out a plan." She walks out of the room and stomps up the stairs to her bedroom. Jake gives a heavy sigh, "I'll be right back." As he heads out the door, "Try not to run out on me just yet, I don't know if I can fight the Cowboy gang and chase three head strong women all over town in the rain and keep my sunny disposition." [/QUOTE]
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